The National tribune., 1887-01-13

being in readiness the Lieutenant drew his
sword and, as the command rang out, Ready"
the IL rifles were raised and cooked.
"Aim-Fire,"
A sharp report rang out as the 12 rifles were
simultaneously discharged, and tho condemned
man sprang into the air and fell dead, pierced
through the breast and neck; every ball had
taken effect. The execution over, the division
started at once on its northward march, DE
Courcey's Brigade acting as rear guard.
From Manchester began one of the most
arduous and hazardous marches of the war. Up
to that place Morgan had a fairly good road
whereon 10 march, but from there northward
he was obliged 10 force his way through 200
miles of rough, hilly country, almost entirely
destitute of food for men and animals, and
wholly without water for many miles with
Steyenson's and John Morgan's Confederate
cavalry constantly harassing his rear and
fanks. A strong Confederate army was opera
ting in Central Kentucky, and radiating in
various directions from the interior.
Morgan had valuable supply and artillery
train, which the enemy desired to possess; and
Morgan's policy was TO avoid meeting him in
any considerable force. From Manchester there
were two possible routes OF retreat, one by way
of Irvine, Jacksonville and Mt Sterling TO
Maysville, on the Ohio, and the other by way Of
/ West Liberty and Grayson to Greenupsburg
below Ironton, o. The Maysvlle road was
much the better, but il would entail upon Nor
gan just what he wished to avoid, viz, the
necessity Of fighting the enemy in large force
and the probable loss of his train. 1t was ex-
pected he would choose that route, and the
enemy was posted in large force to intercept
| him. The other route, while exempt from the
| great danger attending the former one, was full
/ of other dangers and difficulties. The natural
barriers and obstacles of the route were so well
known TO the Confederates that they considered
/ il impossible, and thinking IL impracticable
for Morgan 10 pursue it, they disposed their
| heavy force on the other route.
Road there was none in the direction in
which Morgan travelled. The only roads in
that country follow the valleys of the streams,
and these valleys running east and west, the
| few roads of that section were nearly at right
angles with Morgans line Of retreat. He was
obliged 10 march across a rough and broken
country, so utterly barren that even the "'sang
] diggers" and mountain "corn crackers" had
abandoned it. 1t seemed the most desolate
region on earth. Morgan had no choice, how
ever and on the night of Sept. 20 the extraor-
dinary march was commenced. j will not at
! tempt detailed portrayal of the suffering and
hardship of Morgan's Division on that terrible
march Of over 200 miles regard them as
BEYOND DESCRIPTION.
The roads to Maysville and Greenupsburg
separate at Proctor, where the formidable diff
/ culties Of the march began. The road was mar
row and in many places flanked by steep and
precpitous bluffs. The roadbed was filled with
huge bouders and cut and scanned by the action
of the stream which followed it to such an ex-
| tent that il was barely possible to pass with
teams. This was the character of the road in
the immediate vicinity of Proctor.
The head of the column moved carly in the
| evening, and so slow was the progress Of the
column through this road that the rear-guard
did not get started until after midnight John
Morgan, with the characteristics of " Pats fca,"
was now lowering in Morgan's front, intent
| upon blockading the road and carrying of or
destroying the last wagon-load of food in the
country. Gen. q. W. Morgan hoped TO reach
/ Proctor in time TO seize Touring mill with
/ large quantity of -four there, but his rebel
namesake had been there in advance, burned
the mill with its contents, aud rode down the
river TO Irvine.
The roads were so rough that details had fre-
quently 10 be made 10 prevent the wagons,
gun-carriages and caissons from capsizing.
With all the precaution used, caisson of the
9th Ohio battery capsiZed into a creek on the
| evening of the 23d, exploding a percussion
SHE'LL which blew up the carriage, wounding
several men and killing n mule. 4 force of
Confederate cavalry, which was again operating
in Morgan's rear, dashed in and captured
number of soldiers Of the 9TH KY. who were
struggling in search of food. They made a Sec
ond dash, but were driven hack in handsome
| style by the Add Ohio, which was covering the
| rear OF the column.
The brigades Of Spears and De Courcey were
executing difficult day and night marches
| over he rough broken hill region and reached
Proctor fainishing with thirst. Learning that
the mill and -four had been destroyed by John
Morgan, they left the town about noon, and
again taking to the hills marched toward
Hazel Green, where they arrived the next day.
| They entered the place early in the day and
found two rebel officers
on RECRUITING SERVICE
pursuing their duties in fancied security, never
dreaming that Federal army would under
take TO march through that desolate and for
saken region. Here they encamped and
awaited the arrival Of Baird and Carter, who
were moving TO that point from Manchester by
the valley route with the train and heavy
guns. Hazel Green was not noted for its Union
pr0clivities during the war. 1t was said that
there were but five Union men in the County
in which the town is situated. Morgan's som-
missary officers found in the vicinity of Hazel
Green about GO head Of cattle, which We're
herded in the rear and guarded by the 22d Ky.
Soon after the column left the town a company
of troopers from John Morgan's command rode
into the town, hastily raised a company OF
volunteers, and attacking the 22d Ky, STAN
peded the cattle, and that splendid supply OF
beef was lost to MOrgan's almost famishing
soldiers
WAS constantly prepared for battle. The enemy
expecting Morgan 10 retreat by the other route
, had prepared 10 offer battle at Irvine. But
Morgan's generalship again thwarted him. lie
marched Baird and Carter, with the train, by
/ the river route and Spears and DE Courcey by
! the way Of Proctor 10 Hazel Green, and com.
, pletcly eluded the confident enemy.
Morgan's next great concern was that Kirby
; Smith might move force rapidly 10 the east
, ward and intercept him at West Liberty ol
GraysOn. Again the pestiferous John Morgan
was in Gen. Morgan's front, blOckading the road
! and impeding his advance. The rebel cavalry.
4 men worked with energy. but in digging and
chopping bee" they were no match for tho
/ sturdy sappers and miners of Capt. Pattison'
corps. Tho shovels, picks and axes brought
away from the Gap by Morgan were utilized
and were efficient tools In the hands Of thi
. . pioneers in the removal Of the distractions
: | When the distractions could not be quickl,
: : cut away, road was constructed around them
The division marched and fought and du
. its s.y onward with but little rest and still
: | less food. All the food that could now be dc
! pended upon was the scanty crop Of corn ripcn
. ing under the September sun. The grain haC
passed out Of the succulent roasting ear
stage and was rapidly hardening. This tn
! hungry soldiers gathered as they could find il
and grated it on the bottoms Of their tin plates
which had been perforated from the inside b.
= = the points Of their bayOnets. The meal thu
= obtained was mixed with water and stirre'
: : into batter, and baked into a sort of
: CRUDE "HoE CAKE"
y when time could be found TO bake IL. Some